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CONSTITUTION 

OF THE 

A-.-M-.-O-.-R-.-C/ 




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CONSTITUTION 

OF 

AyMvOyRyCv 



DEC 24 1917 



d/wecK/nX &am i^xKiiXiX^Jl *\mJ<. 



THE 



CONSTITUTION 

OF THE 

A vill v»v«v«v 

OF NORTH AMERICA 

Adopted and Ratified by all Lodges of this Order, 

Represented at the First National Convention, 

Held in Pittsburgh, Pa., July 31 -Aug. 4, 1917 

TO WHICH IS ADDED 

SPECIMEN BY-LAWS FOR ALL LODGES 



W 



With Introductory pages, containg the First American 
Charter, the FirsT: American Pronunziamento, a Chart of 
the Official Symbols and Seals, Record Blanks of 
Initiation, Advancement and Membership, also a List of 
the Supreme Executive Officers for the year 3270 R. C. 

PRINTED IN THE PRINT SHOP OF THE SUPREME GRAND 

LODGE, WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE DEPARTMENT 

OF PUBLICATION 



NEW YORK 
MCMXVII 




-JKJ& 



Copyright, 1917, by 

Department of Publication 

Supreme Grand Lodge 

AYMVOYRYC V 

of North America 



©C!.A4807i't3 



SUroro of Stttttatton 

T it UttOttUt by this personal Memorandum that 

I. 

with the Divine privilege of our God, and at the 

invitation of 

was duly Initiated into the 

3Urst i*gn* nf % A \ m M \ '(§ \ *&V0I \ * 

Crossed the Threshold of the 

Lodge, 
in 



on the evening of ... 
in the year 

And, by virtue of a decree by the Master of the 
Lodge, I was duly Initiated into the 

9*rand Itegr*? of Lodge 



in 

and into the 

SH|tri> Urgrrr of 



on 



Lodge 




Hemhtfrsfjip lUrorfc 



This is to recall the pleasant occurrence of my 
Initiation into the 

3Fourtt| i?grer 

of our Order, at which time I received the Official 
Certificate of Membership sealed and signed by 
the Officers whose names are given below: 

Date of 4th Degree Initiation 

Name of Lodge 

Location 

Master's Name 

Secretary's Name 

Chaplain's Name 

Names of some Brothers and Sisters present : 




MtmbtTB^ip j&ttatb— (Bantitvaeit 






Initiated into the Fifth Degree 

Lodge 

Location 

Initiated into the Sixth Degree 

Lodge 

Location 

Initiated into the Seventh Degree 

Lodge 

Location 

Initiated into the Eighth Degree 

Lodge 

Location 

Initiated into the Ninth Degree 

Lodge 

Location 

Initiated into the Tenth Degree 

Lodge 

Location 

Initiated into the Eleventh Degree 

Lodge 

Location 

Initiated into the Twelfth Degree 

Lodge 

Location 



. 







Eninnnii 



3n Utettttg Sulij Assemble 

We, the undersigned Men and Women, of New York City, 
were formally constituted members of the 

SUPREME AMERICAN COUNCIL 

of the 

ANCIENT AND MYSTICAL ORDER 

of the 

JR00? dr000 

in accordance with the Ancient Rites and Cere- 
monies, under the direction and approval of the 
MOST WORSHIPFUL 
GRAND MASTER GENERAL OF AMERICA 

TTrtytttfaV? ll£ tt tutDttm tljat: we hereby pro- 
^^ claim the establishment of the 

Hostmtrian GDrfor in Ammra 

and recognize such Officers of its Grand Lodge as 
are hereunto subscribed as being duly appointed, in 
conformity with the FIRST AMERICAN MANI- 
FESTO. 



g 

unci 




Signed this 1st day of April, in the year 1915. 

H. SPENCER LEWIS, 

Grand Master General. 

NICHOLAS STORMS, 

Deputy Master General. 

THOR KIIMALEHTO 
Sceretary General 



THE FIRST AMERICAN CHARTER 

(Signed by nineteen men and women) 




RVCV SYMBOLISM 



THE SYMBOLS AND SEALS SHOWN BELOW 

ARE THE ONLY TRUE EMBLEMS OF THIS 

ORDER, AND DISTINGUISH THIS ORDER 

FROM ALL OTHERS 




GENERAL SYMBOL 

OF THE ORDER IN 

THE WORLD 



t 



MARK OF THE 
DEPARTMENT 

OF 
PUBLICATION 



^ 



C23 



THE GREAT SEAL OF THE ORDER 
IN AMERICA 




)±J. 



THE SEAL OF THE 
FOUNDER 



V 



THE SEAL OF THE 

SUPREME GRAND 

SECRETARY 





EMBLEM WORN BY THE 
MEMBERS 



THE ROSAE CRUCIS 




GREAT SEAL OF THE 

SUPREME 

GRAND MASTER 



SACRED INSIGNIA OF 
THE IMPERATOR 



3Firat Antmratt PrnnuttziantPtttn 

Issued by the Charter Members of the Supreme Grand 
Lodge as Founders of the Order in America. 



The Ancient and Mystical Order Ilosae Crucis in the 
United States of America its Territories and Dependencies, 
shall be an independent organization operating under its 
own Constitution. 

Its purposes shall be the same as those of the "Order 
Ilosae Crucis" throughout the world, and its Constitution 
shall be identical in spirit with that w T hich guides and di- 
rects this Order in other lands. The Order in America, 
shall, however, retain its fraternal and spiritual relation 
with this Order in other countries, regardless of its inde- 
pendent jurisdiction and shall maintain its adherence to 
the traditional principles and laws of the ancient Rosae- 
crucians. 

Since both the ancient and modern form of government 
of the Order is autocratic in nature, the government of the 
Order in America shall adopt strictly autocratic principles 
of government, but because of the necessary division of 
America into many jurisdictions operating under one Ameri- 
can Constitution, the said Constitution shall embody such 
changes or modifications as will properly meet the require- 
ments of this jurisdiction. 

Therefore it is declared that the attached Constitution of 
which this Pronunziamento is a part was prepared after 
consultation of all possible authorities and with proper dis- 
cussion by all the Founders of the Order in America, and 
was finally approved and adopted by the Charter Members 
of the Supreme Grand Lodge in America and shall be 
adopted and ratified by all Lodges now organized or here- 
after to be organized and Chartered by the Supreme Grand 
Lodge or the Imperator of the Order in America. 

&*> 
Decreed and Issued June, 1915, at a meeting of the First 
American Supreme Council held in the City of New York, 
X. Y. 





£>upr?m? lExrruttup ($ffu?ra 

nf tit? GProrr 

for Nnrtli Amrrtra 

HARVE SPENCER LEWIS, F. R. C, 

Imperator 

CONRAD H. LINDSTEDT, K. R. C, 

Supreme Grand Master 

ALBERT B. BRASSARD, K. R. C, 

Supreme Grand Secretary 


1 

| 

I 

1 

I 

1 




LOUIS LAWRENCE, K. R. C, 

Supreme Grand Treasurer 


t 




i30" 


1 


! 

1 


W •/ G V M V THOR KIIMALEHTO, K. R. C, 

Illustrious Sovereign Inspector-General 
of the Ancient Sovereign Chapters of 
the Illuminati Amenhotpii 

_ 






Arttrir ©ur 

OFFICIAL NAMES AND 
SYMBOLS. 

Section 1 

The name of the Order in 
America shall be : "The An- 
cient and Mystical Order 
Itosae Cruris." In abbreviat- 
ed form the name shall be 
"A.M.O.R.C. of North Amer- 
ica." 

Section 1a 

The members shall be known 
as "Brothers" and "Sisters" 
or by such honorary or ritual- 
istic titles as may be con- 
ferred upon them or herein- 
after described, or as "Rosae- 
crucians." And the doctrines, 
philosophies and teachings 
shall be known as "Rosaecru- 
cianism." 

Section 2 

The Official Symbols shall 
be the same as those used by 
Lodges of this identical Order 
in other lands and in accord- 
ance with the dictates of the 
American Supreme Council. 
Each Lodge in the American 
Jurisdictions shall adopt a 
symbol or seal incorporating 
the essential features of the 
national symbols adopted by 
the Order in this Country. All 
such seals or symbols shall be 
distinctly different in some es- 



sential so as to make separate 
registration possible with the 
Supreme Grand Lodge. 

(The Official Symbol of 
the Order in its exoteric 
form in America, as adopted 
by the Supreme Grand 
Lodge, consists of an equi- 
lateral triangle with its 
point downward. In the 
centre of this triangle shall 
be a cross formed of one 
perpendicular line rising 
from the lower point and 
rising to the horizontal line 
of the top of the triangle, 
and meeting it to form right 
angles therewith. This up- 
right line shall be crossed, 
about two-thirds above the 
point of the triangle with a 
horizontal line touching the 
two sides of the triangle.) 

NOTE. — The names and 
symbols thus adopted and 
given in the above para- 
graphs were absolutely new 
in America at the time they 
were adopted by the Ameri- 
can Supreme Council and 
were not in use by any simi- 
lar or other organization 
group or Lodge in America, 
and were not a simulation 
of any other secret order 
symbols. 



(Eonatttutimt of tit? (§vb?t 



Arttrl* Stm* 



THE GOVERNMENT OF THE 
ORDER 

Section 1 
The Government of the Or- 
der in North America shall 
rest with, and be exclusively 
in the hands of, the Imperator. 
He shall be the highest au- 
thority, the autocratic execu- 
tive and the- court of last ap- 
peal in all matters pertaining 
to the work of the Order, 
both spiritual and material. At 
his discretion he may desig- 
nate certain powers to his ad- 
visory Council known as the 
American Supreme Council, or 
to various officers as herein- 
after stated ; or he may leave 
to their consideration, vote or 
decision such questions, rul- 
ings or laws as he may deem 
proper, and which may be 
more efficiently expedited in 
this manner 

Section 2 
The said American Supreme 
Council shall constitute a 
nominal executive board for 
the administration of the 
Order in America, and each 
Lodge shall have similar Coun- 
cils for the purpose of fulfill- 
ing the laws and decrees of the 
Imperator, the Supreme Grand 
Master or the American Su- 
preme Council subject always 
to the autocratic rulings of 
the Imperator. 

Section 3 
This Constitution shall con- 
stitute the working laws of 
the Order in America by 
which the Imperator, the Su- 
preme Grand Officers, all 
Grand Masters, Masters and 
Councils shall be guided. All 
official Decrees, rulings, laws, 



proclamations and announce- 
ments conforming to the said 
Constitution shall be issued in 
the form of Pronunziamentos 
by the Imperator, the Supreme 
Grand Master, the American 
Supreme Council, Grand Mas- 
ters, or Masters in autocratic 
form and shall be obeyed by 
all members of this Order. 



Attitlt E^ttt 



FORM OF ORGANIZATION. 
Section 1 
In order that the dictates 
of the American Supreme 
Councli and the purposes of 
the Order itself may be more 
efficiently executed in the 
North American Jurisdiction, 
the said North American Ju- 
risdiction, consisting of the 
North American Continent and 
all territories, dependencies 
and colonies or possessions be- 
longing to or under the direc- 
tion of every other country or 
nation on the North American 
Continent, including the West 
India Islands, shall be sub- 
divided into Grand Lodge 
Jurisdiction as follows : Itaeh 
State, Territory or Depen- 
dency of the United States of 
America shall be made a 
Grand Lodge Jurisdiction : 
each and every other country, 
dependency or possession in- 
cluded in the North American 
Jurisdiction as heretofore de- 
scribed, shall be made a sep- 
arate Jurisdiction in like man- 
ner by decision of the Ameri- 
can Supreme Council. 

Section 2 
The North American Juris- 



16 



(Emtstitnium nf th? (Writer 






diction shall consist, therefore, 
of fifty (50) or more Grand 
Jurisdictions having definite 
geographical boundaries and 
united only in submission to 
this Constitution and the gov- 
ernment of the Order for the 
North American Jurisdiction. 

Section 3 

Lodges shall be established 
in these Jurisdictions as here- 
inafter provided under the fol- 
lowing general classification 
and w;th the following- form 
of regulation: 

(a) A Supreme Grand Lodge 
shall be composed of tin 1 
Supreme Grand Master, 
the Supreme Grand Offi- 
cers, the American Su- 
preme Council and an un- 
limited number of Broth- 
ers and Sisters. It shall 
he the Supreme Spiritual 
Body for the North Amer- 
ican Jurisdiction. It may 
be located in any city of 
and Jurisdiction* of this 
Order. 
(l)» Grand Lodges shall be 
founded and maintained 
in every Grand Jurisdic- 
tion of this Order in 
North America to the 
number of one Grand 
Lodge for each Grand 
Jurisdiction. They shall 
be granted Charters under 
this Constitution by the 
Imperator in the name of 
the Grand Master of each 
Grand Lodge. Such Grand 
Lodges shall be subser- 
vient to the Imoerator. 
the American Supreme 
Council and this Constitu- 
tion. 

(c) Subordinate Lodges shall 

be founded and main- 
tained in every Grand 
Jurisdiction of this Order 
in North America to an 



indefinite number of 
Lodges for each Grand 
.Jurisdiction. They shall 
be granted Charters by 
the Grand Lodges of their 
respective Jurisdictions is- 
sued by the Grand Mas- 
ters of said Grand Lodges 
with the approval of the 
Grand Councils of said 
Grand Lodges. Such Su- 
bordinate Lodges shall be 
subservient , to this Con- 
stitution, their respective 
Grand Lodges and indi- 
rectly to the Imperator 
and the American Su- 
preme Council. 



Artirte 3fattr 

NATIONAL EXECUTIVE 
OFFICERS 
Section 1 

THE IMPERATOR : He 
shall be the Supreme Auto- 
cratic Executive of the Order 
in North America. His duties 
and powers shall include 
those defined throughout this 
Constitution and in any 
amendments thereto. He shall 
be subservient to the Supreme 
R. C. Council of the World 
consisting of a duly elected 
bodv of Imperators or Grand 
Masters General of the various 
Jurisdictions of this Order as 
now established or which may 
be established in the various 
countries of the world. 

The present Imperator. 
Harvc Spencer Lewis, holds 
this exhalted office by virtue 
of his election by the Supreme 
Grand Lodge of North America 
and which election is ratified 
by the ratifi cation and adop- 



17 



— , — 







tiou of this Constitution by all 
Lodges now existing in North 
America. 

Furthermore, the present 
Imperator, Harve Spencer 
Lewis, was granted the distinc- 
tion and burdened with the re- 
sponsibility of being the First 
American 11. C. Imperator be- 
cause of his Initiation into the 
Order in foreign lands for the 
purpose of bringing the Order 
to America, and because of the 
honors bestowed upon him by 
the Grand Master of our Order 
in Fiance, which honors, in- 
cluding those of : Prelate of 
the Order in France, Fellow of 
the Rosaecrucian Illuminati of 
France, and Supreme Digni- 
tary of the Order for America, 
are granted and set forth in a 
French Pronunziamento num- 
bered "li. F., II. C, No. 987,- 
432 and sighed by the Grand 
Master and the Officers who 
conducted his initiation into 
the sublime mysteries and 
teachings of our twelve de- 
grees, and which document 
and its declarations of spon- 
sorship have been amended and 
verified by communications to 
this Order in America ad- 
dressed to the various officers 
of American Supreme Council. 

The present Imperator of 
the Order in North America 
shall hold this position and 
office until his transition to 
the higher realms, or until his 
resignation is officially accept- 
ed by the American Supreme 
Council, or until he is excom- 
municated or retired by any 
recognized and active Supreme 
R. C. Council of the World. 

His successor, and all future 
Tmperators of the Order in 
North America, shall be elected 
by a two-thirds vote of all 
the Grand Lodge Masters in 
North America and the mem- 



bers of the American Supreme 
Council of North America, duly 
assembled in a National Con- 
vocation, called especially for 
such purpose within seven 
days after the vacancy of the 
Onice. Such successors must 
be elected within thirty days 
after the vacancy of the Im- 
perator's office and position, 
from among* those Brothers' of 
the Order who are in the 
highest degree of the Order in 
North America. The term of 
Office of each Imperator suc- 
ceeding the present Imperator 
shall be the same as applies to 
the present Imperator, and his 
duties and powers shall be the 
same. 

Section 2 

The Supreme Grand Master : 
He shall be the Master of the 
Supreme Grand Lodge and as 
such shall be the Chief Execu- 
tive of the Material and Spir- 
itual work of the Supreme 
Grand Lodge, including the 
Ritualistic work of said Lodge, 
and shall preside over the 
American Supreme Council in 
all its meetings. 

He may also be the Imper- 
ator of the Order in North 
America holding both offices at 
the same time. But when not 
Imperator he shall be subser- 
vient to the Imperator in all 
matters pertaining to the Ex- 
ecutive work of the Supreme 
Grand Lodge. 

He shall be elected to his 
Office by a majority vote of 
the Supreme Grand Council, 
for a term of not less than two 
year-;, and not more than ten 
vears. Uoon retiring he shall 
be dignified by the title of 
"Past Supreme Grand Master.*' 

Section 3 
Supreme Grand Secretary- 
General; He shall be in 



18 



J 



m 



CEnnatttutiutt nf tljr GDrforr 



charge of all national records 
of the Order, shall conduct or 
supervise all correspondence 
between the Supreme Grand 
Lodge, American Supreme 
Council, the Grand and Local 
Lodges and their Officers, and 
those having official business 
with the national organization 
work or with the Supreme 
Grand Lodge. 

He shall likewise fill the du- 
ties of Secretary in the Rit- 
ualistic work of the Supreme 
Grand Lodge, and shall be cus- 
todian* f the National seal and 
of the seal of the Supreme 
Grand Lodge. 

He sliall be elected to Office 
by the Supreme Grand Council 
by a two-thirds vote for a 
term of one year, and may be 
successively re-elected for four 
additional years. When his 
duties so Avar rant he may 
have one or more assistants at 
the discretion of the American 
Supreme Council. Upon his 
honorable retirement he shall 
be known as "Past Supreme 
Grand Secretary -General." 

Section 4 

Supreme Grand Treasurer- 
General: He shall have charge 
of the national finances and 
all moneys received by the Su- 
preme Grand Lodge, American 
Supreme Council or its Offi- 
cers, from all sources in con- 
nection with official work. He 
shall keep correct records, and 
if it is found necessary, shall 
have assistance in auditing the 
records or maintaining a fund 
in legal manner. He shall also 
fill the duties of Treasurer in 
the Supreme Grand Lodge. 

He shall be elected in like 
manner as the Supreme Grand 
Secretary-General, and for a 
similar term. Upon his hon- 
orable retirement he shall 
have the honorary title of 



••Past Supreme Grand Treas- 
urer-General." 



Arttrlr W\x& 

Section 1 

THE AMERICAN SUPREME 

COUNCIL. 

This body shall consist of the 
Officers of the Supreme Grand 
Lodge, and such additional 
Brothers and Sisters of the Or- 
der, in any Lodge, as may be 
selected by the Imperator or 
the Supreme Grand Master to 
make a total of twenty-five 
Supreme Grand Councilors. 

Section 2 
These shall be appointed for 
a term of one year, and may 
be re-appointed for successive 
additional years. They shall 
be subject to all laws of this 
Constitution as are the Officers 
and the Brothers and Sisters 
of the Order. 

Section 3 
This Council shall exist as 
an advisory board to the Im- 
perator and the Supreme 
Grand Master. It shall as- 
semble under the direction of 
the Supreme Grand Master. It 
shall decide or vote upon such 
questions as are submitted to 
it by the Supreme Grand Mas- 
ter or Imperator. It shall con- 
sider ways and means of pro- 
pagating the Order and its 
work and make recommenda- 
tions in the form of resolu- 
tions to the Supreme Grand 
Master or the Imperator. 

Section 4 
It shall pass upon the appli- 
cations for new Grand Lodges, 



19 



C&pttstttuttmt of tit? Writer 



and make recommendations in 
regard thereto to the Imper- 
ator. It shall sign all Laws it 
mav pass with tae approval or 
desire of the Supreme Grand 
Master or imperator,. and shall 
adopt, approve and sign all 
such Manifestoes, Decrees or 
Pronunziamentcs as shall be 
issued by the American Su- 
preme Council and which re- 
quire the signatures of the 
Councilors and the Seal of the 
American Supreme Council. 

Section 5 
It may have within its body 
an executive committee known 
as the Ministraro, the Minis- 
ters of which shall be selected 
by the Imperator. The Min- 
istraro shall work nnder such 
laws and rules of efficiency* as 
it may adopt. 

Section 6 
The American Supreme 
Council shall adopt and estab- 
lish such "Rules of Procedure*' 
as may be necessary to con- 
duct properly its affairs and 
expedite the matters which 
may come before it. 



Artirk &xx 

MEMBERSHIP. 

Section 1 
Membership to the Order 
shall be strictly limited to men 
and women, 21 years of age or 
over, who are of good moral 
habits, who meet the necessary 
requirements as to character 
and occupation, who openly 
profess and declare their be- 
lief in God, w T ho submit to in- 
vestigation after invitation to 



join the Order, and who are 
eventually duly elected to the 
Order and pass through its In- 
itiation in sincerity and hu- 
mility. 

Amendment 1. Special dis- 
pensation may be granted, 
however, by the Grand Mas- 
ters of each State or district, 
or by the Imperator, for the 
admission of an applicant of 
either sex over 18 years of 
age and under 21 years, whose 
application has been duly ex- 
amined and approved by the 
presiding membership commit- 
tee of any subordinate or 
(•rand Lodge in their Jurisdic- 
tion. Such members shall not 
hold, however; any office until 
of legal age. 

Section 2 
Each Lodge shall adopt its 
own rules as to procedure for 
investigating applicants, and 
for their election into the Or- 
der for Initiation, Such rules 
shall be established and main- 
tained by the Council of each 
Lodge, which shall appoint a 
Membership Committee and in- 
struct it to pass upon and rec- 
ommend applicants. 

Section 3 
The "Colombe" of each 
Lodge shall be the only ex- 
ception to the rules of age for 
admission. 

Section 4 
A complete Lodge shall con^ 
sist of not more than 144 ac- 
tive members and 14 Officers, 
making a total of 158 active 
members. 

Section 5 
Members may become non- 
active by non-attendance to 
the regular convocations and 
lectures or degree work, and 
by not paying dues regularly. 



20 



In such case they shall re- 
main non-active until re-ad- 
mitted to such degree, in any 
Lodge, as they last attended 
and until they pay regular 
dues and attend all work 
again, provided there is a va- 
cancy in the Lodge to which 
they apply for admission. 

Section 6 

Members may be transferred 
to other Lodges upon the writ- 
ten recommendation of their 
Master* and provided there is 
a vacancy in the active mem- 
bership list of the Lodge to 
which they desire to be trans- 
ferred. Such transferred mem- 
bers shall take precedence over 
all applicants in being ad- 
mitted. 

Section 7 

All members shall be classed 
as either active or non-active, 
and in either class must be of 
good report and record, other- 
wise they can not remain as 
members. 

Section 8 
Each Grand Lodge shall 
have a Council consisting of 
14 officers and 11 other mem- 
bers appointed bv the Master, 
to serve one year, and may be 
reappointed. Each Subordi- 
nate Lodge shall have a Coun- 
cil consisting only of the ac- 
tive officers. Such Councilors 
shall be selected by the Mas- 
ters of the Lodges. 



Arttrlr 1$?\xm 

LODGE OFFICERS 
Section 1 
Every Lodge of this Order 
shall have the customary 14 



Officers as outlined in the 
"Secret Mandamuses." 

Section 2 
The Officers of each Lodge 
shall consist of Master, Depu- 
ty Master, Secretary, Treas- 
urer, and ten other Ritualistic 
Officers. The Deputy and the 
ten Ritualistic Officers of each 
Lodge shall be appointed or- re- 
appointed by the Master at the 
Annual Election. (All the 
foregoing Officers, except "Ma 
tre" and "Colombe" may be 
filled by either Brothers or 
Sisters of the Order.) 

Section 3 
The Master, Secretary and 
Treasurer of all Lodges shall 
be elected, in the case of a 
Lodge, at the expiration of 
their terms, or whenever art 
official vacancy occurs. In the 
case of a Master, he shall be 
re-elected or another elected 
at the expiration of such term 
as is decreed in his Charter. 
No Master may be elected and 
installed in any Lodge with- 
out the approval of that 
Lodge's superior Council. 

Section 4 

Officers for new Lodges may 
be elected by the Foundation 
Committee. In such case the 
election must be approved by 
the new Lodge's superior 
Council. 

Section 5 

Officers in the Supreme 
Grand Lodge shall be titled 
with the words "Supreme 
Grand" preceding their office 
title. In Grand Lodges by the 
word "Grand," and in Subor- 
dinate Lodges by the word 
"Worthy." 

Section 6 
The duties of Masters, Depti- 



21 






(EimalUtrtum of tlj* (§timc 






ties, Secretaries and Treas- 
urers in each Lodge, shall be, 
aside from Ritualistic work, 
those which usually pertain to 
the Offices of Presidents, Vice- 
Presidents, Secretaries, and 
Treasurers in other organiza- 
tions. 

Section 7 
Ritualistic Officers for each 
Lodge, including the Supreme 
Grand Lodge, shall be appoint- 
ed by the Master of the Lodge. 
Each officer shall be appointed 
for a term of one year from 
the date of such appointment 
except in the case of an ap- 
pointment to fill a vacancy, 
when the term shall be for the 
unexpired part of the term of 
the Office vacant. All Officers 
may be reappointed for suc- 
cessive terms. 

Section 8 

The titles, conditions of ap- 
pointment, duties, etc., of all 
Ritualistic Officers shall be as 
defined in the ""Secret Man- 
damuses" of the Order as ob- 
tain in all Lodges of this 
Order. 

Section 9 

All Ritualistic Officers, in- 
cluding the Deputy Master, 
Secretary and Treasurer, shall 
sign an Official "Officer's 
Oath" in the presence of the 
Master pledging their allegi- 
ance to the Order and the 
Imperator. 

Section 10 
The Treasurer of each op- 
erating Lodge shall be bonded 
in an amount specified by the 
Council of each Lodge and the 
Bond is to , be made payable 
to the Supreme Grand Lodge. 



AttitU Etglft 

CONVOCATIONS 
Section 1 

The regular Ritualistic Con- 
vocations of the Order shall be 
held by each Lodge at least 
twice a month, in some Tem- 
ple especially arranged or 
adapted to the Ritualistic 
work and having the Official 
equipment. 

Section 2 

Such Convocations shall be 
conducted by the Master and 
Officers in accordance with the 
"Secret Mandamuses" and the 
dictates of the American Su- 
preme Council as issued by the 
Imperator of the Order in 
North America. 

Section 3 

The "work" in the Lodges, 
consisting of lectures, teach- 
ings"; ceremonies, initiations, 
examinations, tests, experi- 
ments, etc., shall likewise be 
in accordance with the "Secret 
Mandamuses" or as modified or 
improved by the decrees of the 
American Supreme Council and 
issued by the Imperator of the 
Order in North America. 

Special Meetings, Assent 
bites, or Convocations of a Na- 
tional nature may be called by 
the Imperator and th e Master 
of each Lodge may call similar 
meetings of a local nature at 
any time with due notice to all 
members of his Lodge. 



Arttt 1*> Nittr 

ANNUAL BUSINESS 
MEETING. 
Section 1 
The Annual Business Meet- 



22 



Cimatttiituui nf tlj* Wrbtt 



ing of tlie Supreme Grand 
Lodge shall be held on the 
first Thursday of March of 
each year, in the Temple of 
the Supreme Grand Lodge. It 
shall be presided over by the 
Supreme Grand Master and he 
may summon to this meeting 
such officers or members of the 
Order in North America or in- 
vite others from the Order in 
other Countries, as he may 
find advisable, necessary or 
fitting. 

* Section 2 

The Annual Business Meet- 
ings of all grand and subordi- 
nate Lodges shall be held on 
or about the date of the An- 
nual Business Meeting of the 
Supreme Grand Lodge, prefer- 
ably prior thereto, in order 
that its report may be sent to 
the Annual Business Meeting 
of the Supreme Grand Lodge. 
Such meetings shall be pre- 
sided over by the Master of 
the Lodge, who shall have the 
privilege of inviting oth(-.\s 
from other Lodges to attend. 



Artirl* S*u 

ANNUAL ELECTIONS. 
Section 1 
An annual election day shall 
be established by each Lodge 
in accordance with the date 
of the election and appoint- 
ment of its first Officers. Such 
annual election shall be held 
by the Council of each Lodge. 
Nominations shall be offered 
on the same evening as elec- 
tion, and the installation of 
now Officers may be held the 
same evening as the election, 
or at a special meeting of the 



entire Lodge on another night, 
or just preceding the Convoca- 
tion at the next regular Con- 
vocation of the Lodge or any 
degree thereof. 

Section 2 

The Deputy Master and Rit- 
ualistic Officers shall be ap- 
pointed by the Master at such 
election. 

Section 3 

The Council of each Lodge 
shall embody in its B -Laws, 
rules and regulations regard- 
ing the nomination, election 
and installation of new Offi- 
cers, consistent with this Con- 
stitution. 



Arttrlr Ebn^n 

ANNUAL CELEBRATION 

DAYS. 

Section 1 

There shall be held two Spe- 
cial Assemblies each year in 
North America. One shall be 
the New Year Feast and the 
other shall be the Outdoor 
Fete. These shall be held by 
all Lodges. 

Section 2 
The New Year Feast will oc- 
cur about the 21st of each 
March the exact date being 
proclaimed by a Pronunzia- 
mento issued by the Imperator 
every February. It is to cele- 
brate the New Rosaecrucian 
Year which begins on the min- 
ute when the sign "Aries" 
rises on the horizon on that 
day in March when the "Sun" 
just enters the sign of "Aries." 
(The year 1016 A. D. corre- 
sponds to the Rosaecrucian 



23 



OIottHtttutton of tJ$* Wtbtr 



year of 3269, which begins on 
March 21, 1916, at 1 :06 A. M. 
Eastern Time.) Such New 
Year Celebrations shall be 
held in the Temples of the 
Lodges and attended by the 
Council, Officers and members 
of the Lodge and by such es- 
pecially invited guests as are 
visiting members of the Order 
and whose presence the Mas- 
ter desires for reasons good 
and sufficient unto himself. 
There shall be a symbolical 
feast consisting principally of 
corn, or its products, salt, or 
that which tastes most 
strongly of it, and wine, in 
the form of unfermented grape 
juice, and any other delicacies 
or refreshments suitable to the 
occasion. All Officers shall 
wear their full regalia and all 
others their aprons or other in- 
signia. There shall be only 
sacred music, symbolical ad- 
dresses and sincere rejoicing 
for the New Year. 

Section 3 

At this New Year Feast it 
has been customary for the 
Master to bestow such honor- 
ary titles on his members as 
he mav contemplate, to make 
new appointments to fill vacan- 
cies, etc. 

Section 4 

All other regular or special 
Convocations or meetings of 
each Lodge are to be post- 
poned in order that the New 
Yea^ Feast may be held on 
the day decreed by the Imper- 
ator. 

Section 5 

The Annual Outdoor Fete 
may be held by the discretion 
of the Master of each Lodge, 
on or about the 23rd day of 
September of each year, the 
oxact day being decreed by the 
Tmperator. It shall be that 
day when the Sun enters the 
sign of Libra. 



Section 6 
This Annual Outdoor Fete 
should be held by each Lodge 
independently, to celebrate 
the laying of the foundation 
stones of the Great Pyramid 
in America. Each Lodge shall 
arrange to go on this day (or 
the following one, should it 
rain or be stormy) to an open 
space in the suburbs of such 
Lodge, and with prayer and 
addresses, have each member 
of the Lodge deposit in one 
small pile a simple little stone 
or pebble, symbolical of "plac- 
ing a stone for the foundation 
of the Great Pyramid in 
America." Full regalia and 
insignia must be worn by all 
officers and members. Se- 
crecy of the. Fete need not be 
maintained, but the public or 
the unitiated must not be 
given, in the prayers or ad- 
dresses, any of the secret 
"work," signs or symbols of 
the Order. Such a Fete may 
be held at sundown if desired. 



THE 



ESTABLISHMENT 
LODGES. 



OF 



Section 1 
Lodges may be established 
in any city, town, or locality 
of North America under the 
following conditions : 

GRAND LODGES. 
Section 2 
These may be formed by 48 
(forty-eight) sincere seekers 
for light and truth submitting 
to the Supreme Grand Lodge 
through the Supreme Secre- 
tary General, signed official 
application blanks with the re- 



24 



l_ 



(Hanatituttou uf tl|* Wrfttr 



quest that the 48 applicants, 
desiring to organize or found a 
Grand Lodge, be granted a 
Charter. 

Section 3 
Such Grand Lodges may be 
founded in any jurisdiction of 
North America, having no 
Grand Lodge at the time the 
applications are submitted, or 
where an existing Grand 
Lodge is about to disband, dis- 
solve or be withdrawn : pro 
vided such proposed Grand 
Lodge 4« to be located in one 
of the principal cities of an es- 
tablished jurisdiction. 

Section 4 
SUBORDINATE LODGES. 

It shall require 36 (thirty- 
six) signed Official Applica- 
tion Blanks accompanied by a 
request to form a Subordinate 
Lodge. Such request is to be 
directed to the Secretary of 
the Grand Lodge of the Juris- 
diction in which such proposed 
Subordinate Lodge is to be sit- 
uated. 

Section 5 
Those desiring to organize or 
found Lodges in their cities or 
towns may secure permission 
and instruction from the Su- 
preme Grand Secretary-Gen- 
eral at the Supreme Grand 
Lodge in New York City, by 
mail or in person, after sub- 
mitting to such investigation 
as the Supreme Grand Secre- 
tary-General and the Imper- 
ator desire. When permission 
is granted, the person to 
whom it is granted is to form 
in his or her city or town a 
Foundation Committee of 5 
(five) men and women, with a 
Foundation President, Founda- 
tion Secretary and Foundation 
Treasurer included in the 
Committee. 



Section 6 

The said Foundation Com- 
mittee shall then submit their 
names and references to the 
Supreme Grand Secretary- 
General who may, at the dis- 
cretion of the Imperator, 
issue to such Committee com- 
plete "Instructions for Organ- 
izing a Lodge." Such Com- 
mittee shall have authority to 
organize under the direction of 
the Lodge in charge of the 
Jurisdiction in which the pro- 
posed Lodge is situated. 
Section 7 

Charter will be granted to 
such member of the Founda- 
tion Committee (after either 
36 or 38 applications are se- 
cured as indicated in Section 
2 or 4 of this Article) as may 
seem proper and fitted for the 
Office of Master of said pro- 
posed Lodge. 

Section 8 

Charters for Subordinate 
Lodges will be granted to the 
selected Master for a "period 
of one year, renewable each 
year thereafter for three suc- 
cessive years, and transferable 
or revokable upon sixty days 
notice" by the superior Coun- 
cil under whose Jurisdiction 
the proposed Lodge shall exist. 
Special Dispensation may be 
granted for Subordinate 
Lodges for a limited period of 
organization work prior to the 
granting of a Charter. 
Section 9 

Grand Lodges shall receive 
a Charter granted to the se- 
lected Master of each Lodge 
for a "Period of one year, re- 
newable each year for four ad- 
ditional successive years, 
transferable or revokable upon 
60 (sixty) days notice." from 
the American Supreme Council 
or by the Imperator. 



25 



(Hmtatttution of tij? (§vbtr 



■I 



Section 10 
All necessary "work" and in- 
structions will be given to 
each Lodge after the Charter 
or Special Dispensation is 
granted by the Superior body 
granting the Charter or Spe- 
cial Dispenastions. 



Arttrlr Stytrfrrn 

FEES AND DUES. 
Section 1 

All Lodges of the Order 
shall establish a standard of 
Initiation Fees and Dues. The 
minimum Initiation Fee shall 
be $5.00. All members shall 
pay the regular dues in order 
to maintain the Lodge, and 
when such dues are not paid 
the members in arrears shall 
be deemed "non-active." (See 
Section 5 of Article 6.) Such 
members may not attend lec- 
tures or Convocations of any- 
kind. Associate members dues 
shall be fixed by the Master 
of the Lodge with which the 
member is associated. 
Section 2 

Each Lodge shall establish 
in its By-Laws certain laws re- 
garding the period during 
which members may have 
their dues in arrears without 
losing privileges of active 
membership ; but in no case 
shall a longer period than 6 
(Six ) months be permitted for 
a r rears of dues. When the 
arrears exceed this period the 
member shall he suspended 
from all membership standing. 
Section 3 

Monthly dues shall not be 
less than 50 (fifty) cents and 
not Over $5.00 (five dollars.) 



Section 4 

Officers may be exempt from 
paying regular monthly dues 
during their term of Office ; or 
if the Council of any Lodge so 
decrees by unanimous vote, Of- 
ficers of that Lodge may pay 
the same dues as the members 
for such period as decreed by 
the Council. 

Section 5 

Initiation Fees shall be 
charged by all Lodges. The 
fee for the First Degree shall 
be not less than $5.00 (five 
dollars) payable at the time of 
Initiation or prior thereto. It 
may be raised to any higher 
amount as membership in the 
Lodge increases. Such in- 
crease in Initiation Fee (for 
First Degree) must be by 
unanimous vote of the Lodge's 
Council. 

Section 6 

Each Lodge may, by decree 
of the Council, charge Initia- 
tion Fees at the time members 
pass from First Degree to the 
Second, and from the Second 
Degree to the Third, etc. Not 
less than .$1.00 (one dollar) 
shall be so charged, and not 
over $50.00 (fifty dollars) for 
the last or Twelfth Degree. 



Arttrlr Jfamrirrtt 

ROYAL SUPPORT. 
Section 1 
Each Lodge of the Order 
holding a true and legitimate 
patent or Charter in the name 
of its Master under this Con- 
stitution, shall contribute to 
the Royal Support of this Or- 
der, as follows : 



26 







—j 




GImtBtttitttmt of tijr QDrfcrr 






Section 2 


Section 4 






Subordinate Lodges shall re- 


No member shall use for 






mit monthly to the Grand 


trade purposes any title, 






Lodge of its jurisdiction. 


honor, degrees, or emblems of 






through the Treasurer, of the 


the Order. 






Grand Lodge, a Royal Support 








of 25% of all Initiation Fees 


W 






and Dues received during the 






month. 








Section 3 








Grand Lodges shall remit to 


Ariirlr §>txt**u 






the Supreme Grand Lodge of 








North America through the 


PUBLICITY AND PUBLICA- 






Supreme Grand Treasurer, the 
Royal* Support of 25% of all 


TION. 






Initiation Fees and Dues re- 


Section 1 






ceived during the month from 


The general propaganda 






Grand Lodge members and 


work of the Order shall be Of- 






also shall remit the Supremo 


ficially conducted by the Su- 






Grand Treasurer 25% of the 


preme Grand Lodge, its Coun- 






Grand Lodge Royal Support 


cil and its Officers ; assisted 






from its Subordinate Lodges 


by a National Progaganda 






received during the month. 


Committee. 

Section 2 






WW 


Local propaganda work may 






be conducted by any Lodge, 








Foundation Committee or Of- 






Krtxclt Jffiftmi 


ficer only by following the 
general methods of the Su- 






REGALIA AND EQUIPMENT. 


preme Grand Lodge. All lit- 
erature 1 or other matter used 






Section 1 


in this war must be submitted 






Every Lodge shall have the 
proper and Official Regalia and 


to the Publication Committee 
of the Supreme Grand Lodge 
and be approved by the said 






Equipment for its Officers and 






Temple as decreed by the Su- 


( 'ommittee. 






preme Grand Lodge in its ''Se- 


Section 3 






cret Mandamuses." 


All books, pamphlets, trea- 






Section 2 


tises, lectures, expositions, and 




No change shall be made in 
Regalia or Temple Equipment 
by any Lodge except by per- 
mission of the Imperator. 


interpretations issued by any 
Lodge. Lodge Committee, Of- 
ficer or individual, purporting 
to be truly "Rosaecrucian" or 
to contain the ideals, prin- 






Section 3 


ciples or laws of this Order, 






Regalia and Insignia, as 


shall be first submitted to the 






well as all Emblems, for any 


said National Publication Com- 






use whatever, shall be of an 


mittee for approval, ami if ap- 






Official design and make, and 


proved or deleted, will receive 




• 


shall be purchased only from 


the Official Imprint of said 






official Rosaecrucian Supply 


Committee, vouching for its 






Bureaus, 


Official Correctness. 






7 





(Eonatitutton of ttyt Wtbtt 



Arltrl* &rtttittmt 

AMENDMENTS. 

Amendments to this Consti- 
tution shall be made only by 
a two-thirds vote of the" Of- 
ficial Delegates of all Lodges 
represented at a National Con- 



vention of the Order for North 
America. 

(Such Amendments as are 
hereafter adopted will be print- 
ed in such form that they can 
be attached to this book in 
this section. Such printed 
slips will be furnished by the 
Supreme Grand Secretary. 



KmmbmtntB 



Kmtnbmmt 2fa* 2 

It has been so decreed by 
American Supreme Council 
that all Grand Lodges in 
North America shall within 
one year from the time their 
Charter is granted make ap- 
plication to the proper legal 
authorities within their juris- 
diction for the incorporating 
of said Lodges as religious or- 
ganizations founded and oper- 
ating according to this Con- 
stitution of this Order. 






28 



I§>p?rimett Sg-lEatas 



This form of By-Laws, with 
necessary modifications and ad- 
ditions, shall be adopted by all 
Lodges in the North American 
Jurisdiction. 

The Imperator. 

NAME AND SEAL. 

The name of this Lodge 

shall be 

Lodge of the A. M. O. R. C. of 
Nortli America. 

Its Official Seal shall be as 
impressed herewith and filed 
with the Supreme Archivist of 
the Supreme Grand Lodge. 

PURPOSES. 

The purposes shall be to 
conduct regular and official 
convocations, rituals, lectures 
and meetings of the A. M. O. 
R. C. in our own Jurisdiction 
and within the terms and lim- 
itations of the Charter under 
which this Lodge exists. 

ALLEGIANCE. 

Because we are duly Char- 
tered by our superior Lodge of 
the A. M. O. R. C, and be- 
cause we exist, as a Lodge by 
virtue of such Charter, we are 
pledged by its conditions to 
obey and adhere to the Con- 
stitution of the A. M. O. R. C. 
of North America, and also 
bound by Oaths and sacred 
promises to heed, obey, respect 
and promulgate the decrees, 
rules, pronunziamentos and de- 
cisions of our Superior Lodge, 
the Supreme Grand Master, 
the American Supreme Council 
and the Imperator of the Or- 
der, of which Order we are a 
part, and to the autocratic 
government of which we, as a 
Lodge, subscribe and declare 
our allegiance. 



JURISDICTION. 

The Jurisdiction in which 
the powers of this Lodge and 
its Officers are to be exercised 
is that which is stated in our 
Charter ; and such powers 
shall be those defined by said 
Charter and by the Constitu- 
tion of the Order and its 
Amendments. 

MEETINGS. 

The regular meetings or lec- 
tures of this Lodge shall be 
those decreed by the Council 
of this Lodge. Special meet- 
ings or convocations shall be 
called by the Master of this 
Lodge at his reasonable discre- 
tion or by our Superior Lodge. 

MEMBERSHIP. 

Membership in this Lodge 
shall be limited to 144 active 
members in addition to the 
fourteen Officers. Conditions 
of Membership shall be accord- 
ing to the Constitution of the 
Order. (Methods of passing 
upon applications and voting 
upon Candidates shall be fully 
set forth in this Section.) 

ELECTION OF OFFICERS. 

New Officers for this Lodge 
for any regular term, or to fill 
any vacancy, shall be elected 
or appointed in accordance 
with the Constitution of the 
Order. 

The regular election of Of- 
ficers for this Lodge shall be 
held each year on : (anniver- 
sary of the date of the Lodge's 
Charter). 

(Laws for the nomination 
of officers, calling of meeting 
for election, and method of 
voting shall be fully set forth 
in this section.) 



29 



&pttw&n iBg-ICawB 



OFFICERS AND TERMS. 

The Officers of this Lodge 
shall be a Master, Deputy Mas- 
ter, Secretary and Treasurer 
as executive officers, and the 
necessary ritualistic officers as 
stated in the Constitution of 
the Order. Their terms of of- 
fice shall be as follows : (state 
fully here, after consulting the 
Constitution). 

THE LODGE COUNCIL. 

The advisory Council of this 
Lodge shall consist of: (24 
members for a Grand Lodge 
and 14 members for a sub- 
ordinate Lodge), including all 
executive and ritualistic of- 
ficers. The Council shall ad- 
vise the Master in the per- 
formance of his duties or the 
solving of any problem when 
he seeks or requires its as- 
sistance. Its unanimous vote 
on any rule, law, order of 
decree of the Master shall be 
duly considered by him, and 
if he shall veto such unani- 



mous decision of the Council, 
said Council may appeal to 
the Master of its Superior 
Lodge. 

In the matter of issuing ex- 
communications, pronunzia- 
mentos and decrees, the Mas- 
ter of the Lodge shall have 
autocratic power consistent 
with the Constitution of the 
Order. 

(Additional articles may be 
added to the By-Laws adopted 
by the Lodge, and these should 
be as specific and complete 
as possible. It is recommended 
that each Lodge adhere, in its 
work of the Council, to the 
parliamentary laws set forth 
in Robert's Rules or some sim- 
ilar guide. The adoption of 
the By Laws should be a mat- 
ter for an evening's session of 
the Lodge Council, and each 
Article should be fully dis- 
cussed and voted upon. Ad- 
ditions to the By Laws, or 
Amendments, should be voted 
upon by the Lodge Council 
in like manner.) 




30 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

022 172 315 6 




